Means fob loading cabs



Jan. 26, 1943. HQAK Re. 22,256

MEANS FOR LOADING CARS Qriginal Filed March 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ALL NRHoA A. R. HOAK MEANS FOR LOADING CARS I Original Filed March a, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W ALLAN Ho fi l Jan. 26, 1943.

, MEAN S FOB LOADING CARS Allan R. Hoak, Fresno, Calif.

Original No.

2,224,432, dated December 10, 1940, Serial No. 322,988, March 8, 1940.

Application for reissue November 26 1941, Serial No. 420,541

Claims. (01. 105-367) My invention relates to an improved means for loading cars with fruit, or other perishable merchandise placed in packages for transportation.

In order to better understand my invention it is here noted that the present method for loading cars with boxes, crates, packages, or lugs,

- hereinafter referred to as lugs, for transportation,is to place the lugs in rows crosswise in the end of the car, nail car strips across the top of the row of lugs to more securely hold them from shifting and being jostled in the car, then to place a second row on the top of the first described row, and again nail strips thereon, and so continue until a tier of rows are thus constructed, and in the same manner build successive tiers to fill the car. In order to keep the load of lugs from side shifting and jostling about in the car durin transportation, it is necessary to place the lugs close together in the row so they support each other, and likewise to put the tiers close together to form a solid pack, or load. As the inside widthof the car is seldom an exact 7 multiple of the length of the lugs, unwanted spaces in this form of loadingexist between the load and the .walls of the car. To compensate for these spaces between the wall and the load, the car strips are extended 'at'eitherend so the alternate car strips bear against opposite walls of the car. This is the only means provided in the present used method, to prevent the load of lugs from shifting sidewise, thus loosening the load, and subjecting the lugs to be jostled in the car. As the car strips are normally one-half inch in thickness and two inches, in width the precaution stated for preventing side shifting is not sufllcient. This results in extensive damage to fruits and merchandise thus loaded which is.

shipped long distances, through the shifting of the load and resultant broken lugs and packages.

It is also noted that in unloading the car, the .strips must be torn orripped from the lugs to which they were nailed, which procedure likewise results in broken lugs and damaged fruit.

It is further noted that when the lugs of fruit are packed closely-together, forming a compact load as hereinbefore described, the only oppor-' tunity to secure ventilation between the lugs is through the small open spaces between the top of one lug and the bottom of the lug next above, the lugs generally being provided with cleats on the top and on the bottom to provide said space.

In my invention I have overcome those objections and have accomplished the following obiects:

The arrangement of the-lugs forming the load,

with my improved spacers, form a rigid, firm and compact load which cannot shift, and will more easily withstand the shocks given to the car in transportation, thereby eliminating excessive breakage and damage to the lugs and contents which is now prevalent.

Y Each individual lug is braced and made secure at all four corners.

My improved method and means for loading the car holds each lug separate and apart from the adjacent lugs, thereby providing complete and adequate spaces around each individual lug for ventilation, and for refrigeration, both of which are highly necessary and desirable in the shipment of perishable products.

Skilled labor for loading the car is not required.

I eliminate the nailing of car strips to the lugs, and thus avoid damage occasioned by ripping off such strips when the car is being unloaded.

A car only partly filled can have the load thereon rigid, braced, and compact as a complete load.

To accomplish these objects I have invented the following described method, together with my improved spacers, for loading cars for transportation, described in the following specification, and illustrated on the accompanying drawings, hereby made a part of this specification, in which,

Fig. 1 shows a top plan view of a plurality of lugs packed into a 'car with my spacers in use,

a fractional view of the car only being shown.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged unit view,of a spacer, or

post, which is inserted at the meeting corners of the stacked lugs.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are each enlarged unit views of modified forms of spacers which can be substituted for the form shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are modified forms of spacers which are to be used at the sides, ends and corners ofthe car' and adjacent to the load.

Fig. 9 is a wedge adapted to occupy space when the width of the car is wider than a multiple of the width, or length of the lug and spacer.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a load in a car, the .view being taken from end of g the pack of lugs.

Fig. 11 is a fractional view of a wall, a stack .of lugs, and wedge means for holding the stack of lugs against the wall. I r

Fig. .12 is an individual lug packed with fruit. In the drawings, 9 represents a single lug of the a general character of lugs used. for transporting grapes and fruit. It is rectangular in form, and they are made of uniform size for ease in handling and shipping. One form of spacer, 8, is

shown in Fig. 2. This spacer is constructed of two strips of material which is approximately two inches square and the length of the height of the load, although variations from these dimensions can be made without departing from my invention. A board of approximately the same length, and wider than the thickness ofthe strips is inserted between the two strips. II and II, and the three piece 'are fastened together so they form a post, with the board forming tongues II and I2 projecting from opposite faces of the p st. It is noted that a cross section of said spacer 8 would be in the form of a cross, as shown in Fig.- 1. The side walls of the car are shown as It, and the rear wall of the car is indicated as Iii. Modified forms of spacers are shown in Fig. 8, which is a right angle form 80, to be used in loading in the corners of the car, spacer ll, shown in Fig. 6 having one of the tongues removed, which form is to be used along the side walls of the car, and a form ill shown in Fig. 7

in which one of the strips is omitted, said form il being used as a spacer at the end wall of the car. i

The loading of a car with these spacers is as follows: The lugs are arranged in a stack Ii the height it is desired to make the load, and the loading is started in one corner of the car with spacer Bil used in the car corner, spacer I placed against the back wall llil at a corner of the lug, and a spacer 40 placed along the side wall ll of the car at a corner of the stack of boxes. Then additional stacks of lugs are formed and positioned along the end of the car with spacers ill placed against the back wall IM of the car, the strip 83 functioning as a spacer to hold the stacks a spaced distance apart, and the board "-82, functioning to space the stack of lugs from the rear wall. The stacks of lugs arranged in this manner across the end of the car ties. As shown in drawings, there is a space between the top of one lug and the bottom of the next adjacent lug, when said lugs are stacked,

which space is provided by cleats 80 and 91, shown in Fig. 12, and spacers 8 provide open spaces on the sides and ends of the lugs. To further promote ventilation, and adequate refrigeration form a tier of stacks, and provides open spaces 20 between the stacks of boxes, shown in Fig. 10. spacers! are then positioned adjacent to openings III. with strip 84 forced into space 20. This leaves recessed openings between the projecting strips II into which stacks of lugs are placed to form the next adjacent tier of lugs. The loading is thus continued with the use of spacers ill at the endsof the tiers of lugs and against the side walls III of the car, and spacers between the stacks of lugs, until the aproximate center of the car is reached. Thus, in plan view. as shown in Fig. 1, the loading forms a checker board arrangement with parallel rows of stacks extending atright angles to one another. The other half of the car is then loaded in the same manner. and the two end packs forming the car load are then braced against each other, and against the ends Ill of the car by well known means of bracing not shown herein. I

Itis noted that if the tier of lugs and spacers inserted between the stacks of lugs do not at tightl between the walls ll of the car, wedges ill, shown in Fig. 9, can be inserted between the spacers at the ends of the tiers of lugs, and the wall ill of the car is shown in Fig. 11.

Another means for thus tightening the tiers of lugs between walls III of the car is accomplished by using theform of spacer shown in Fig. 3, in which strips Ill and I are formed with converging sides to form a wedge. When these wedge formed strips are forced in openings Ill, they spread the stacks of lugs apart and thus occupy more space. i

It is noted that one of the objects of my inwhich can be accomplished better with ventilation, I have provided a modified from of spacer 8, shown in Fig. 4. by providing a plurality of cross members ll which are substituted for the board "-82. these cross members 88 being spaced apart and clamped between, and attached to strips 83 and I4. I have also used the form of spacer shown in Fig. 5 in which a plurality of holes I0 are formed through the spacer along the line of strip 83.

Figs. 1, 1,0 and 11 show the boxes empty, as

these figures were primarily intended to illus-- stacks and tiers rigidly in said spaced relation,

consisting of a post formed of two rigid strips attached together with members clampedbetween said strips, said members extending beyond the faces of the two rigid strips, said strips and portions of the members extending beyond the faces of the strips'being adapted to snugly enter the interstices between adjacent stacks of packses.

2. In combination with stacks of boxes or crates of approximately rectangular shape arranged in parallel rows of tiers, said stacks of boxes being approximately uniformly spaced apart from adjacent stacks of boxes, spacers adapted 'to hold said stacks of boxes in said spaced relation consisting of a strip of material of such width that when positioned within the space between the stacks of boxes adjacent to the intersection of said spaces, said strip will extend over a. portion of the faces of said adiacent stacks of boxes, on either side of said space, of such thickness that it will fit tightly between the adjacent stacks of boxes, and of such length that it will reach from the bottom to the top of said stacks of boxes, said strip of material having lateral winged extensions on either face thereof and at approximately right angles to said strip of material, said wings being adapted to fit tightly in the spaces between adjacent stacks of boxes and at approximately stack. spacers adapted to hold said stacks in said spaced relation consisting of a rectangular post of such size that it can enter the intersecting spaces at the corners oi the stacks oi lugs, and extend irom the bottom oi the stack oi lugs to the top oi said stack, said post having laterally extending tongues on its iaces, said tongues being oi a thickness to approximately equal the width oi the space between the stacks oi lugsr 4. In combination with a railway car or the like, loaded with stacks or rectangular packages oi similar shape and size in substantially checker.- board arrangement providing rows oi stacks extending at right angles to each other; vertical angle strips disposed adjacent each oi the iour corners oi said car respectively receiving the outside comers oi the comer stacks oi said load in the re-entrant corners defined by the legs oi said angle strips spacing said outside corners oi said corner stacks irom the corners oi the car; elongated T strips disposed between the said lateral walls of said car and the stacks oi the outside rows oi the load oi stacks receiving the adjacent corners oi adjacent pairs oi stacks oi said outside rows in the re-entrant comers defined by the adjacent sides of the head and leg oi each strip thereby spacing the said adjacent pairs oi stacks irom each other and from the lateral sides of said car; and elongated strips oi substantially Greek cross-sectional contour positioned at the adjacent four corners of each multiple oi iour stacks in said load receiving such iour corners in the reentrant corners defined by the adjacent arms of said latter strips thereby spacing the stacks oi said load from each other and supporting said stacks irom shiiting laterally relative to each other.

5. In combination with a railway car, or the like, loaded with stacks of rectangular packages of similar shape and size in substantially checkerboard arrangement providing rows of said stacks extending at right angles to each other; elongated strips positioned at the corners of the packages oi the outside rows of side stacks supporting the said latter packages spaced irom the lateral walls oi said car and supporting the adjacent stacks of the outside rows spaced from each other: and elongated strips positioned at the corners oi the packages oi said stacks that are disposed inwardly oi the confines defined by the outer sides oi the outer rows oi said stacks spacing the packages oi adjacent stacks oi the load apart and supporting said latter packages irom shiiting laterally relative to each other; each of said first mentioned strips being substantially T-shape in cross section with the leg of the T disposed between the stacks oi adjacent pairs thereof in said outside rows with the head of the T positioned outwardly of thelouter sides oi the packages oi said outside rows.

6. In combination with a railway car, or the like,-1oaded with stacks oi rectangular packages 6! similar shape and size in substantially checkerboard arrangement providing rows oi said stacks extending at right angles to each other; single means engaged by the adjacent iour corners of each multiple of iour adjacent stacks in the load spacing the stacks of said rows apart and supporting the stacks in said rows irom shiiting laterally relative to each other; each of said single means comprising a post in substantially the iorm oi a cross in cross-section with the said adjacent iour corners being respectively positioned in the reentrant corners defined by the adjacent pairs oi arms oi such cross.

'7. In combination with a railway car, or the sponding 1mm sides thereoi in each stack respectively in co-planar relationship, each stack in each row being alongside a correspondmg stack in the row adjacent thereto with enact the lateral sides oi the respective boxes in each stack positioned in opposed, parallel relationship with one oi the lateral sides oi a box in the stack adjacent thereto of a corresponding shape and size, means engaged by the adjacent iour corners oi the boxes oi each multiple 0! iour adjacent stacks oi said rows spacing the stacks oi said rows apart and supporting the boxes in each stack irom shiiting laterally relative to each other and relative to the boxes in the adjacent stacks and means including the lateral side walls oi said car holding the boxes in the stacks oi the outermost rows thereoi irom moving outwardly relative to the center oi the car.

8. In combination with a railway car, or the like, adjacent parallel rows oi stacks of rectangular boxes of similar shape and size having corresponding lateral sides thereoi in each stack re- I spectively in co-planar relationship, each stack in each row being alongside a corresponding stack in the row adjacent thereto with one oi the lateral sides of the respective boxes in each stack adjacent thereto oi a corresponding shape and size, a unitary member simultaneously en ged like, adjacent parallel rows of stacks of rectana lar boxes of similar shape and size having correby the adjacent iour comers oi the boxes oi each multiple oi iour adjacent stacks oi said rows spacing the stacks and holding the boxes in each stack irom shiiting laterally relative to each other and relative to the boxes in the adjacent stacks and means including the lateral side walls oi said car holding the boxes in the stacks oi the outermost rows thereoi irom moving outwardly relative to the center oi the car.

9. In combination with a railway car, or the like, adjacent parallel rows oi stacks of rectangular boxes of similar shape and size having corresponding lateral sides thereoi in each stack respectively in co-planar relationship, each stack in each row being alongside a corresponding stack in the row adjacent thereto with one oi the lateral sides of the respective boxes in each stack positioned in opposed. parallel relationship with one 01' the lateral sides of a box in the stack adjacent thereto having a corresponding shape-and size, means iree irom securement to the boxes oi the stacks in said rows positioned at the adjacent iour corners of each multiple-oi iour adjacent stacks of said rows spacing the stacks oi said rows apart and supporting the boxes in each stack irom shiiting laterally relative to each other and relative to the boxes in the adjacent stacks and means including the lateral side walls oi said car holding the boxes in the stacks oi the outermost rows thereoi irom moving outwardly relative to the center 0! the car. v

10. In combination with a railwaycar, Or the like, a plurality oi parallel rows oi stacks oi rec,- tangular boxes oi similar shape and size having corresponding lateral sides thereoi in each stack respectively in co-planar relationship, each stack in each row being alongside a corresponding stack in the row adjacent thereto with one oi the lateral sides of the respective boxes in each stack positioned in opposed, parallel relationship with one of the lateral sides of a box in the stack adjacent thereto having a corresponding shape and size, elongated strips positioned at the adjacent iourcomers of each multiple oi iour adjacent stacks oi said rows spacing the stacks oi said rows the adjacent lateral sides of the boxes in the outermost of said rows that extend at right angles to each other being in substantially parallel opposed relation to two of the lateral sides of said car, and elongated strips positioned at the adjacent two comers oi the adjacent stacks in the shifting laterally i'elative to each other and relatlve to the boxes in the adjacent stacks, twoot pairs thereof in said outermost rows along said lateral sides of the boxes therein spacing the stacks of said outermost rows from the said sides 01 said car and supporting said boxes in said outermost rows from shitting relative to eac other longitudinally of said rows.

ALLAN R. HOAK. 

